525 
y 1 



UNIVERSITY OF ORjK&ON BULLETIN 

New Series. SEPTEMBER, 1913. Vol. XI, No. 2 



A POPULAR 

DESCRIPTION OF THE COMMON 

OREGON FERNS 



A Contribution from the Herbarium of the 
University of Oregon 




Published monthly by the University of Oregon, and entered at the post- 
office in Eugene, Oregon, as second-class matter. 



A POPULAR 

DESCRIPTION OF THE COMMON 

OREGON FERNS 



A Contribution from the Herbarium of the 
University of Oregon 



Salem , Oregon : 

State Printing Department 

1913 



,0 8 





A Popular Description of the Common Oregon Ferns 



FOREWORD. 

The systematic descriptions are taken largely from a thesis 
presented in 1910 for the degree of Bachelor of Arts by Hannah 
Maude Kenworthy. 

The pen and ink drawings were done by Ruth M. Howell, assist- 
ant in the Department of Botany, University of Oregon. 

The planning and editing and the making of the photographs 
were tne work of Albert Raddin Sweetser, the head of the Botanical 
Department. 

DESCRIPTION. 

While the plan is to produce a popular bulletin and scientific 
terms will be sparingly used, yet it will be necessary to employ a 
few in the descriptions. 

The parts of the fern are the leaf or frond; the leaf -stalk or 
stipe; the underground portion, the stem or rhizome, and the fine 
fiber-like roots. In our ferns all the part above ground is frond 
and stipe, although in some cases these attain great size. 

If the frond is divided into distinct portions, each is called a 
pinna. When the pinnae occur in two rows, one on each side of 
the continuation of the stipe, such an arrangement is called pinnate 
and the continuation of the stipe rachis. Example: the Sword Fern. 

Should the divisions not extend to the rachis, although they may 
approximate very closely to it, such a condition would be designated 
as pinnatifid. 

If the pinnae are again completely divided each division is called 
a pinnule and the frond is said to be twice pinnately compound. 
Exanxole: Athyrium, Lady Fern. 

When the pinnules are completely divided the frond is said to 
be thrice pinnate or ternate. Example: Pteris, or Common Brake. 

Various combinations may occur; e. g., a frond may be once 
pinnate but the pinnae only partly divided or pinnatifid. 

The maidenhair presents a peculiar case of division by equal 
forking, two or more times, repeated but the ultimate pinnules have 
a pinnate arrangement. 

NON-SEXUAL REPRODUCTION. 

On the back of the frond, or on specially modified fronds, at 
certain seasons may be found the fruit dots or sori. If a sorus is 
examined with a hand magnifying glass it will be found to consist 
of a cluster of small sacks (sporangia) containing spores. The 
spores serve something the purpose of the seeds of the higher plants 
but are markedly different in structure. 

The sorus may be destitute of any covering or may be provided 
with an indusium. This usually covers the sorus, though in some 
cases it is beneath it. The peculiarities of the indusium are made 
use of in classifying the ferns. 

A concrete example will make all the points clearer. Plate I, 
Fig. A, shows the back of the tip of our common brake or pteris. 
On open poor ground it is often less than a foot in height while in 
damp woods with rich soil the leaves are often twelve to fourteen 
feet. If we imagine a section cut across the leaf in the direction 
(ab) and examined on end with the low power of a microscope it 
would appear as in Fig. B. 



A POPULAR DESCRIPTION OF 



We should notice the mid rib (m), the indusium formed by the 
curling over of the margin of the leaf, and under the indusium 
the sporangia. 

Fig. C is a drawing of a sporangium enlarged. It consists of a 
stalk (s), carrying at its end a sort of sack whose covering is a 
single layer of plate-like cells. On one edge is a row of cells with 
thick walls, annulus (an) . On the opposite edge a few thin walled 
cells which separate easily, forming an opening (m) , the mouth. 
Within the sporangium are the spores. As the sporangium dries, 
contraction takes place and the point (m) being weakest a break 
takes place opening the mouth. At the same time the annulus 
straightens with more or less of a snap, scattering the spores to 
some distance. 

If the spores meet with favorable conditions they germinate. 
Plate II illustrates a number of stages of this growth. At first the 
spore sends out a little root (r) and a short chain of cells (p). 
These continue to differentiate, becoming flat and leaf-like, Fig. F. 
This leaf-like form is known as a 'prothallus and often is a quarter 
of an inch or more across. The spore disappears, the prothallus 
becomes attached by little root-like outgrowths and on its under 
side develops bottle-shaped egg cases containing a single egg each, 
and spherical sperm cases containing numerous sperms which have 
the power of locomotion by means of vibrating threads attached to 
one end. When the eggs and sperms are ripe a single sperm passes 
down to the egg in its case. The egg and the sperm each contains 
a still more microscopic portion called the nucleus in which, it is 
believed, reside hereditary characteristics. The union of the sperm 




?M <£ . 



THE COMMON OREGON FERNS 



with the egg brings about a mingling of these characteristics, and 
is called fertilization. 

From this fertilized egg the new fern grows. 

ANALYTICAL KEY. 

It is customary to divide the plant kingdom into four groups: 
1. The Spermatophytes or Seed Plants; 2. The Pteridophytes or 
Fern Plants; 3. The Bryophytes or Moss Plants; 4. The Thallo- 
phytes or the remaining lower forms. 

Sometimes the first group is spoken of as Phenogam, meaning 
evident marriage, because the method of reproduction is clearly 
seen. The last three would be called Cryptogams or hidden mar- 
riage, because by the earlier botanist the reproduction was not well 
understood, although it is now perfectly clear. 

Pteridophyte is a compound of two Greek words meaning fern 
and plant. This group includes a number of plants beside the true 
ferns such as the Horsetail Rushes, the Club Mosses and others, but 
this Bulletin will concern itself only with the common true ferns 
of Oregon. Species not herein described will be appreciated so that 
they may be included at another time. Send a specimen to the 
Herbarium of the University. 

The use of the key is based on a series of choices and elimina- 
tions. The drawings in the key are intended to make clear the 
possible selections. The alternative is always between things of 
the same order; e. g., the first choice is between A and AA, then 
B or BB, and so on. 

Nearly all the technical words are explained in the preceding 
description. If not, a glossary of terms is to be found, just before 
the index. 




TUUJj:, 



A POPULAR DESCRIPTION OF 



ANALYTICAL KEY. 



A. Fronds distinctly of two kinds. 

B. Sporangia borne in clusters or spikes, 
b. Frond simple. 

Ophioglossum 
Page 11 



bb. Frond pennately divided or 
compound. 



Botrychium 
Page 11 



BB. Sporangia borne on back of 
modified frond. 

b. Frond once pinnate or pinnatifid. 

Struthiopteris 
Page 11 






THE COMMON OREGON FERNS 



bb. Frond twice or three times 
pinnate. 

Crypto gramma 
Pag-e 11 




AA. Fronds all alike, sporangia borne 
on back or margin of frond. 

B. Sori covered with indusia. 

C. Sori marginal, covered with 
reflexed portion of margin 
of frond, 
d. Indusium continuous. 



e. Fronds usually clustered, 
f. Fronds smooth. 

Pellaea 

Page 11 



ff. Fronds wooly. 



Cheilanthes 
Page 13 



ee. Fronds usually solitary. 



d. Indusium discontinuous. 



Pteris 
Page 13 

Adiantum 
Page 13 



CC. Sporangia provided with special 
indusia. 
d. Indusia roundish. 

e. Indusia heart-shaped. 

Dryopteris 
Page 13 






A POPULAR DESCRIPTION OF 



ee. Indusium shield-shaped, 
centrally attached. 

Polystichum 
Page 15 




eee. Indusium convex, attached 
by broad vase partly under 
sorus. 

Filix 
Page 15 




eeee. Indusium inferior, stellate. 

Woodsia 



Page 15 



dd. Sori linear. 

e. Sori parallel to midrib. 

Woodwardia 



Page 15 





ee. Sori oblique to midrib, 
f. Fronds pinnate, 
sori oblong. 

Asplenium 
Page 15 




THE COMMON OREGON FERNS 



ff. Fronds bipinnate, 
sori curved. 

Athyrium 
Page 17 




BB. Sori naked. 

C. Sori roundish; not usual- 
ly more than twice as 
long as broad. 

d. Fronds bi-tr:pinnatificl 
or ternate. 

Phegopteris 
Page 17 




dd. Fronds once 
pinnatifid. 

Polypodium 

Page 17 




CC. Sori linear 



Ceropteris 
Page 1 7 




10 



A POPULAR DESCRIPTION OF 




SQ 




THE COMMON OREGON FERNS 11 

OPHIOGLOSSUM. Adder Tongue. 

Sporangia naked and borne in a simple or compound spike, when 
ripe opening by a transverse slit. The sterile frond simple. 

(The scientific name is composed of two Greek words, snake and 
tongue, referring to the simple spike of sporangia.) 

Ophioglossum vulgatum L. Found in Washington and California 
but not as yet reported in Oregon. Probably present. 

BOTRYCHXUM. Grape Fern. Moonwort. 

Sporangia same as in ophioglossum but the sterile frond divided 
or compound. 

(From a Greek word meaning grapes, because of grape-like clus- 
ter of sporangia.) 

Sterile and fertile frond distinct from the base. Common in 
marshes and wet ground. B. silaifolium Presl. 

Sterile and fertile frond united for a considerable distance. As 
yet only reported from high altitudes in Eastern Oregon. 

B. virginianum (L.) Swartz. 

STRUTHIOPTERIS. Ostrich Fern. Deer Fern. 

Fronds of two kinds but the fertile evidently composed of con- 
tracted pinnules with typical sporangia on the under side. Sterile 
frond narrow, pinnate and shorter than the fertile. 

(From the Greek struthos, an ostrich and pteris, a fern.) 

Struthiopteris spicant (L.) Weiss. 

Abundant on the coast and in the mountains. Occasionally found 
in other parts of the state. 

CRYFTOGRAMMA. Rock Brake. Parsley Fern. 

Fronds of two kinds, the fertile frond of evident pinnules whose 
in-rolled margins form the indusium. Sterile frond twice or three 
times pinnate. 

(From Greek cryptos, hidden, gramma, a line, referring to the 
arrangement of the sporangia in lines which are hidden by the 
indusium.) 

Found growing in clefts of rocks. C. acrostichoides 

PELLAEA. Cliff Brake. 

Sori at the tips of veins, when mature forming a marginal line; 
covered by an indusium formed of the reflexed margin of the 
frond. Clustered, grov/ing on rocks and cliffs. 

(From Greek pellos, meaning dusky or dark and referring to 
the dark color of the stipe.) 

Fronds once pinnate, pinnae short-stalked 6-12 pairs. High 
mountains. P. breweri D. C. Eaton 

Fronds tivice pinnate. Stipes purplish-brown. Pinnae several 
pairs, pinnules numerous. As yet only reported from South- 
ern Oregon. P. brachyptera (Moore) Baker 

Fronds thrice pinnate. Stipes densely placed, wiry, dark chest- 
nut-brown. Sometimes a few sterile fronds are present. 

P. densa Hook. Oregon Cliff Brake 



12 



A POPULAR DESCRIPTION OF 





THE COMMON OREGON FERNS 13 

PTERIS. Brake. Bracken. 

Fronds thrice pinnate. Sori on the edge of pinnules forming 
an unbroken line. Indusium continuous and formed by the in- 
curled margin of frond. Usually solitary; at least not in dense 
clusters. 

(From Greek pteros, a wing, which became to mean a fern from 
the wing-like structure of frond of fern. 

P. aquilina L. The Eagle Brake 

This with its varieties is widely distributed throughout North 
America and the Old World, in Oregon often becoming a trou- 
blesome weed in the fields. 

ADIANTUM. Maidenhair. 

Frond forking by twos. Sori on margin covered by a discon- 
tinuous indusium formed by the inrolled edge of frond. 

(From the Greek meaning not to moisten. Referring to the 
difficulty of wetting the fronds. This can be prettily shown by 
dipping a frond beneath clear water and noting the silvery appear- 
ance due to air on the frond shut in by the water.) A. pedatum 

Rich moist forests everywhere in the state. 

CHEILANTHES. Lip Fern. Lace Fern. 

Sori near the ends of veins, roundish at first but running some- 
what together in age. Indusium of reflexed margin of sorus dis- 
continuous or continuous. Under side of frond in our species 
densely covered with a thick, wooly, rust-colored mat of hairs. 

(From Greek cheilos, a lip, and anthos, a flower, alluding to the 
lip-like indusium.) C. gracillima D. C. Eaton Lace Fern 

High mountains. 

DRYOFTERIS. Shield Fern. 

Sori round, mostly on the back of veins. Indusium heart-shaped 
with a crease or depression on one edge by which it is attached to 
the frond. 

(From Greek dry as, a tree, especially an oak tree because most 
of these tnrive best in the woods.) 

The pinnules or ultimate leaflets all deeply divided or pinnatifid, 
the margins usually spiny. Fronds more or less triangular, 
broadest at base. Common in shady, moist woods, especially 
at sea level. Edges of indusium with or without gland-like 
hairs. D. soinulosa dilatata (L.) Ktz. Wood Fern 

The ultimate pinnules not deeply divided or at least only the 
lower ones. 
The indusium with minute gland-like hairs on upper side. 

Pinnules often doubly saw-toothed and spiny. Texture 
less delicate than the preceding. Common in Western 
Oregon. D. rigida (Hoffm.) Und. 

The indusium without gland-like hairs. Margin of pinnules 
often but slightly toothed and usually not as spiny. Sori 
nearer midvein than the margin. Common. 

D. filix-mas (L.) Scott. Male fern 



14 



A POPULAR DESCRIPTION OF 





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THE COMMON OREGON FERNS 15 

POLYSTICHUM. Sword Fern. 

Evergreen ferns growing in clusters. Sori round generally 
borne on the back of the veins. Indusium shield-shaped and fixed 
at the center only. 

(From Greek poly, many, and stikes, a row. Some species have 
sori in more than one row.) 

Fronds once pinnate. 

Leaf-stalk long. Under favorable conditions the frond 
reaches a height of four feet or more. The pinnae are 
curved like a sword and have a single large tooth on the 
upper edge of each pinna near the midrib. The margins 
of the pinnae are beset with bristle-pointed teeth. One of 
our most common forms. P. munitum (Kaulf.) Presl. 

Leaf-stalk short. Much resembling the former but not as 
tall. Pinnae more closely placed. More common in East- 
ern Oregon. P. lonchitis (L.) Roth. Holly Fern 

Fronds once pinnate but pinnae pinately lobed at base. Moun- 
tains. P. scopulinum (Eaton) Maxon 

FILIX. Bladder Fern. 

Sori roundish, on the back of free veins which are not parallel 
to the midrib. Indusium inconspicuous, hooded, attached partly 
under the sorus, soon withering away. 

Common throughout the state. F. fragilis (L.) Und. 

WOODSIA. 

Sori round, produced on free, simple forking veins. Indusium 
attached wholly under the sorus, breaking and becoming star-like 
and soon hidden beneath the sporangia and disappearing. 

(Named after Woods, an English botanist.) 

We have two species in Oregon which are difficult to separate. 

Under side of frond, midrib and stipe covered with soft flattened 
hairs. W. scouplina D. C. Eaton. Rocky Mountain Woodsia. 

Frond, midrib and stipe smooth. Divisions of the indusium finer 
than the preceding and consisting of few beaded hairs. 

W. oregana D. C. Eaton. Oregon Woodsia 

WOODWARDIA. Chain Fern. 

Sori oblong, in chain-like rows, on veins parallel to width of pinnae. 

(Named for Woodward, an English botanist.) 

The Oregon form is found mostly in the Southern part of the 
state and is one of the most magnificient of North American 
ferns. W. radicans (L.) Sm. 

ASPLENIUM. Spleenwort. 

Fronds once pinnate. Sori linear, oblong, oblique to midrib of 
pinna, straight and attached to the upper side of a vein. 

■Rachis or midrib brown. Fronds linear, evergreen. Sori oblong, 
commonly three on each side of the midvein. Moist rocks and 
shaded cliffs. A. trichomanes L. Maiden-hair spleenwort 

Rachis or midrib green. Only rarely seen and at high altitudes. 

A. viride Hudson 



16 



A POPULAR DESCRIPTION OF 





THE COMMON OREGON FERNS 17 

ATHYRIUM. 

Fronds bi-pinnate, usually tapering in both directions and widest 
at middle. Sori oblong and oblique to midvein. 

In moist ground, becomes dwarfed at high altitudes. 

A. cyclosorum Rupr. Western Lady-fern 

PHEGOPTERIS. Beech Fern. 

Sori always without indusia, round. Frond twice or thrice pin- 
nate or pinnatifid, or tenate. 

(From the Greek phagus, an oak or beech, and pteris, a fern.) 

Fronds twice pinnate, pinnules pinnatifid. Cliffs at high eleva- 
tions. P. alpestris (Hoppe) Mott. Alpine Beech Fern 

Fronds thrice divided, each division pinnate and the pinnae pin- 
natifid. Pinnae on the lower side the larger. Common in 
damp woods. P. dryopteris (L.) Fee. Oak Fern 

POLYPODIUM. The Polypod. 

Sori always naked, roundish. Fronds of our species once pinnate 
or pinnatifid. 

(From Greek poly, many, podos, foot, referring to its numerous 
underground stems.) 

Fronds thick, leathery and broad, divisions extend almost to mid- 
rib. At the coast on decaying logs or living trees. Root- 
stock creeping. P. scouleri Hook. Leather-leaf Polypod 

Division of frond longer and more or less acute. Rootstock 
creeping. Very common and varied. Often found on maple 
trees. _JR^_£Lccidentalis , (Hook) Maxon. Licorice Fern 

Divisions of frond short and blunt. Sori large, nearly covering 

the under side of pinnae. Prefers the rocks of mountains. 

P. hesperium Maxon. Mountain Polypod 

CEROPTERIS. 

Indusium wanting, sori elongated, following course of the vein- 
lets, often branched. 

(From Greek ceros, meaning wax, and pteris, a fern.) 
Fronds pinnate, lower pinnae bi-pannatifid. Under surface cov- 
ered with a yellowish dust passing to white. Sporangia borne 
in long lines breaking through the powder when ripe. On 
rocky hillsides. 

C. triangularis (Kaulf.) Und. Golden-back Fern. Tri- 
angularis is in reference to the triangular-shaped leaf. 



18 



A POPULAR DESCRIPTION OF 





THE COMMON OREGON FERNS 19 



SYNONYMS. 

The fern names used in this bulletin appear in black face type. 
Some have been described under other names, which appear in italic. 

Botrychium virginianum. (L.) Sw. Schrad. 
Osmunda virginiana — L. Sp. PI. 2. 

Botrychium silaifoliuni. 

Botrychium occilentale — Underw. Bull. Torr. 

Ceropteris triangularis. (Kaulf.) 

Gymno gramme triangularis — ( Kaulf. ) 
Gymnopteris triangularis — Underwood. 

Dryopteris spinulosa. (Hoffim.) Underw. Native ferns. 
Polypodium dilatum — (Hoffm.) Deutsch. 
Aspidium spinidosum — (Hook.) Brit. 

Dryopteris filix-mas. (L.) Schott. 
Polypodium filix-mas — L. Sp. 
Aspidium filix-mas — Sw. Schrad. 

Filix fragilis. Underwood. 
Polypodium fragile — L. Sp. 
Cystopteris fragilis — Bernh. Schrad. 

Pellala densa. (Brack.) Hook. Sp. 
Onychium densum — Brack. 

Phegopteris dryopteris. (L.) Fee. 
Polypodium dryopteris — L. Sp. 

Phegopteris alpestris. (Hoppe.) Mett. 
Polypodium alpestre — Hoppe. 

Polypodium occidentale. (Hook.) Maxon. 
Polypodiu7n ulgare occidentale — Hook. 
Polypodium falcatum — Kellog. 

Polypodium scouleri. Hook. & Grev. 

Polypodium pachyphyllum — D. C. Eaton 

Polystichum lonchitis. (L.) Roth. 
Aspidium lonchitis — Sw. Schrad. 

Polystichum scopulinum. (Eaton.), Maxon. 
Aspidium aculeatum scopulinum — Eaton. 

Polystichum munitum. (Kaulf.) 

Aspidium munitum — Kaulf. Enum. 

Struthiopteris spicant. (L.) Weiss. 
Osmunda spicant — L. Sp. 
Lomaria spicant — Desv. Mag. 
Blechnum doodiodes — Hook. 

Woodsia oregana. Eaton. 

Woodsia obtuso, lyalii — Hook. 



A POPULAR DESCRIPTION OF 





THE COMMON OREGOX FERNS 21 



BIBLIOGRAPHY. 

Eaton — Ferns of North America. 
Underwood — Our Native Ferns. 

Piper — Check-list of Flora of the State of Washington. 
Clute — FernBulletin. 

Britton and Brown — Flora of Northern States. 
Waters — Ferns. 



A POPULAR DESCRIPTION OF 





THE COMMON OREGON FERNS 23 



GLOSSARY. 

Fertile — Bearing spores. 

Frond — Leaf of a fern. 

Gland — A cell, usually a hair, that yields a secretion. 

Habit — General appearance of a plant. 

Habitat — The locality in which a plant grows; also its distribution. 

Indusium — The thin membrane covering a fruit dot. 

Inferior — Attached below; said of an indusium below the sporangia. 

Linear — Long and narrow, with parallel margins. 

Pinna — First division of a pinnate frond. 

Pinnate — Divided into leaflets along a common stalk. 

Pinnatifid — When the divisions do not extend to the rachis or midrib. 

Rachis — The continuation of the stipe through a compound frond. 

Re flexed — Abruptly bent or turned backward. 

Rhizome — Underground stem. 

Simple — Not lobed or forked. 

Sorus — A fruit dot. 

Sporangium — A spore case. 

Sterile — Not bearing spores. 

Stellate — Star-shaped. 

StijDe — Stem of a frond. 

Superior — Higher, applied to indusia that are attached above the 

sorus. 
Ternate — Having three main segments. 



24 



A POPULAR DESCRIPTION OF 





THE COMMON OREGON FERNS 



25 





26 



A POPULAR DESCRIPTION OF 





THE COMMON OREGON FERNS 



27 





28 



A POPULAR DESCRIPTION OP 



INDEX. 



Descrip- 
tion 
Adiantum — 

pedatum 13 

Alpine Beech fern 17 

Asplenium — 

trichomanes 15 

viride 15 

Athyrium — 

cyclosorum 17 

Bladder fern 15 

Botrychium — 

silaifolium . 1 1 

virginiana 11 

Brake 13 

Ceropteris — 

triangularis 17 

Chain fern 15 

Cheilanthis — 

gracillima 13 

Cliff Brake 11 

Cryptogramma — 

acrostichoides 11 

Deer fern 11 

Dryopteris — 

filix-mas 13 

rigida 13 

spinulosa 13 

Filix— 

fragilis 15 

Gold-backed fern -... 17 

Grape fern 11 

Holly fern 15 

Lace fern 13 

Leather-leaf Polypod 17 

Licorice fern 17 

Lady fern 17 

Maiden hair 13 

Maiden hair spleenwoi t 15 

Male fern 13 

Mountain Polypod 17 

Oak fern 17 

Ophioglossum — 

vulgatum 11 

Parsley fern 11 



Illustra- 
tion 

14 
25 

24 

25 
22 



2 
o 

14 



27 
24 

16 
12 

10 
10 

18 
16 

22 
27 
2 
20 
16 
26 
27 
25 
14 
24 



10 



THE COMMON OREGON FERNS 



29 



INDEX — Continued. 



Pellaea — 

brachyptera 

breweri 

densa 

Phegopteris — 

alpestris 

dryopteris 

Polypodium — 

liesperium 

occidentale 

scouleri 

Polysticlrum — 

lemmoni 

lonchitis 

munitum 

scopulinum 

Pteris — ■ 

aquilin'a 

Rock Brake 

Rocky mountain Woodsia 

Shield fern 

Struthiopteris — 

spicant 

Sword fern 

Wood fern 

Woodsia — 

oregana ... 

scopulina 

Woodwardia — 

radicans 



Descrip- 
tion 


Illustra 
tion 


11 
11 
11 


12 
12 


17 
17 


25 
26 


17 
17 
17 


27 
26 


15 

15 
15 
15 


20 
18 
20 


13 


14 


11 


10 


15 


22 


13 


18 


11 


10 


15 


18 


13 


16 


15 
15 


22 


15 


24 



